[Exclusive] Quarry Development Without Landowner's Knowledge? ... Geochang-gun Controversy Over Granting Permit to Developer Using 'Copy'

County Office Official Explains "Only Checked Usage Permission... Later Received Original"

The scene of the quarry development site causing controversy in the Geochang area. / Photo by Choi Soon-kyung

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] A controversy is arising as a development company is carrying out expansion construction at a quarry development site in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, regardless of the landowner's consent. The landowner is strongly opposing the project, submitting a complaint to the police, stating that such actions would be impossible without the backing of county office officials.

According to Geochang County Office on the 17th, stone extraction work has been ongoing since 2017 on the mid-slope of a mountain in Modong-ri, Wicheon-myeon, Geochang. Expansion construction has been underway since around last fall.

The controversy began when the landowner raised objections, claiming that they never gave permission for the 'expansion construction' on the site.

The landowner submitted a complaint to the Geochang Police Station accusing the development company’s representative of 'falsification of electronic records' because all documents (seal certificates, land use consent forms) submitted to the county office during the quarry expansion approval process were copies.

Landowner Mr. Jo stated, "In February 2018, when an employee of the development company requested a third land use consent form, I asked why, and was told it was to extend the restoration period due to depletion of extraction volume, so I attached a seal certificate and signed it."

He added, "I only found out belatedly that expansion construction was ongoing even though the quarry development should have been completed and restored. This is something that could not happen without the complicity of the responsible public officials, so a thorough investigation by judicial authorities is necessary."

In response, the quarry development company said, "In February 2018, we received documents (seal certificate, land use consent form) from the landowner to extend the period for extracting soil and stones from the quarry."

A county official explained regarding the fact that all documents related to the expansion construction were copies, "When approving quarry expansion, submitting documents is to verify land use rights, and there is no separate validity period. We later received all related documents in original form, and there was no convenience provided during the processing of the work."

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